Soap dispensing fountain brush and flow control valve



June 19, 1951 F. H. ELLINGER 2,557,267

SOAP DISPENSING FOUNTAIN BRUSH AND FLOW CONTROL VALVE Filed Dec. 14, 1946 iyllllllillflllllflldlmmyai 2.0

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Patented June 19, 1951 SOAP DISPENSING FOUNTAIN BRUSH AND FLOW CONTROL VALVE Flora H. Ellingei', Chicago, Ill.

Application December 14, 1946, Serial No. 716,281

2 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to improvements in brushes and brush attachments and relates more particularly to improvements in the construction and operation of liquid soap dispensing brush units especially adapted for use in washing hair or the like.

A primary object of my present invention is to provide an improved hair and body scrubbin brush which is simple and compact in construction and highly efficient in use.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved liquid soap dispensing brush unit which is unique and highly attractive in appearance and which may readily befirmly gripped and manipulated by the user.

Another specific object of this'invention is to provide an improved brush unit adapted to house a considerable supply of liquid soap or shampoo or the like which may be readily dispensed in desired quantities at the will of the operator over the scrubbing zone. v

Another specific object of my invention is to provide an improved brush assemblage which may be readily filled with a supply of liquid soap or the like adapted to be conducted in a simple manner and in desired quantities for uniform distribution throughout the brush face.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved brush assemblage wherein a supply of liquid soap or the like may be housed within the gripping portion for ready direct distribution to the scrubbing zone by means of a simple valve which is automatically normally closed and which may be readily manipulated by the user.

A further specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved liquid soap dispensing brush assemblage in which the bristle carrying member or brush plate may be quickly and conveniently removed from the soap housing and valve unit for replacement or the like.

An additional specific object of my invention is to provide an improved new and useful sanitary liquid soap dispensing brush unit which may be utilized for diverse purposes and which may be readily manufactured of plastic or other materials.

Still another specific object of the present in" vention is to provide an improved portable liquid soap dispensing brush which may be readily manipulated by a novice for effectively cleansing hair or the like and which may nevertheless be readily merchandised at relatively low cost.

These and other specific objects and advantages of the present invention Will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the several features constituting my'present improvement and of the mode of constructing and of utilizing soap dispensing brushes built in accordance with my in-' vention may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification, wherein like reference characters desig-' hate the same or similar parts in the several views.

Fig. l is a central longitudinal vertical section through a typical improved soap dispensing brush unit built in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through.

the unit taken along the line 22 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a similar transverse vertical section through a somewhat modified brush assemblage embodying my invention.

While the invention has been shown and described herein as being specifically applied to a brush and liquid soap dispensing unit especially adapted for shampooing or otherwise conditioning hair, it is not my desire or intention to thereby unnecessarily restrict the scope or utility of the improvement.

Referring to the drawing, the typical improved soap dispensing brush assemblage shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises, in general, an elongated substantially fiat brush plate 5 having bristles 6 projecting from the face thereof and an elongated groove or trough 1 formed along the back side thereof, the trough I being in constant communication with the face of the plate 5 through a series of spaced passages 8 formed in the brush plate 5 and leading from the trough I to spaced points on the face of the plate between groups of the bristles 6; an elongated valve housing 3 carried by the back side of the plate 5 above the trough 1 and having a valve plunger 10 snugly confined therein for sliding movement longitudinally thereof, the plunger l0 having a series of spaced ports H communicating with the trough l; and an elongated cylindrical soap housing 12 carried by the valve hous-' ing 9 and having a removable closure cap l3 for one end thereof, the housing I2 being formed with a series of spaced apertures M in the wall thereof adapted to register with the ports ll of the plunger it! upon movement of the plunger.

The closure cap 13 is preferably formed with a plug [5 adapted to be threaded into the end of the cylindrical soap housing l2, and this plug 15 is provided with an aperture 16 leading from the interior of the casing or housing [2 to the o periphery of the plug adjacent the sealing flange of the cap. The cap I3 may also be provided with an outwardly extending portion I'I forming a gripping knob for manipulating the cap, and a rubber washer I8 or the like may be utilized with the cap to seal the joint between the housing I2 and the sealing flange of the cap I3. The plunger II] is constantly urged toward one end of the valve casing or housing 9 by the action of a helical compression spring I?! coacting with an end wall of the housing 9 and with one end of the plunger Ill as clearly shown in Fig. 1, so that the ports II of the plunger are normally out of registry with the apertures I 4 in the casing I2; and the opposite end of the plunger I9 is provided with an actuating rod or stem 20 extending through the end closure 2| of the valve housing 9 for sliding coaction therewith. The plunger actuating rod 29 is formed with a medial slot 22 cooperable with a pin 23 in the end wall 2| of the housing 9 to limit the longitudinal movement of the plunger I9 and to prevent rotation of the plunger within the valve housing, and the rod 20 may also be provided with an end head or button 24 forming a finger rest during actuation of the valve.

The brush plate 5, valve housing 9 and soap housing I2 may be formed as an integral structure, or the brush plate may be formed as a separate removable member as shown in Fig. 3. The modified device shown in Fig. 3 consists of the same elements as hereinabove described and as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2. However, the brush plate 5 of the modified device is provided with a longitudinal recess 25 having lateral side grooves 21 adapted for coaction with laterally extending tongues or longitudinal side lugs 28 of the valve casing 9 so that the brush plate 5 may be removed by sliding action for replacement thereof if the bristles 6 should wear out. It is, of course, apparent that proper provision must be made in the modified structure for alinement of the passages S in the brush plate, and means other than the tongue and groove arrangement shown may be provided for attaching the brush plate 5 to the valve housing 9.

In normal use of the device, the cap I3 may first be removed and the housing I2 filled with a supply of liquid soap, shampoo or the like, after which the cap is tightly screwed in place and the brush unit is ready for use with the soap being retained within the casing or housing I2 in an obvious manner by the slide valve I0 which is maintained in closed position by the action of the spring I9. With the soap casing I2 forming a natural gripping handle for the device, the brush may then be manipulated over the areas it is desired to scrub; and as the brush is manipulated, the valve plunger I0 may be actuated against the action of the spring I9 by pressing a finger against the button 24 of the stem 20, thereby sliding the stem 29 and plunger I0 longitudinally of the valve housing 9 until the ports II are in registry with the apertures I4 at which position further longitudinal movement is stopped by coaction of the pin 23 with the end of the slot 22. During this movement of the plunger I 6, the spring I9 is of course compressed; and upon release of the pressure on the button 24, the plunger I9 is automatically returned to the position shown in Fig. 1 with the ports I I out of registry with the apertures I4 and the supply of soap past the valve cut off. When the valve is open with the ports II in registry or alinement with the apertures I4, liquid soap from the housing or reservoir I2 passes through the apertures I4 and ports I I to the groove or trough I from which it is distributed to the spaced passages 8 and conducted therethrough to the face of the plate 5 between groups of the bristles 6. Obviously, the user of the device may readily control the supply of soap to the brush face by actuating the valve more or less frequently as desired, and this valve actuation is easily effected by simple manipulation of the button 24 with a finger of the hand gripping the elongated housing I2.

The improved device is preferably formed of plastic with the various parts being readily molded and with the end wall or closure 2I of the valve housing 9 either fused or screw threaded in place, but it may obviously be manufactured of other suitable materials and the separate closure piece 2| may be omitted by merely extending the plunger I0 through an aperture in the end wall of the valve housing 9. The aperture I6 in the plug portion I5 of the cap I 3 permits air to escape from the reservoir I2 after the same is filled with soap and while the cap is being screwed in place. Since the bristles 6 are subjected to considerable Wear, especially when the brush is used in a beauty parlor or the like, the brush plate 5 may be furnished as a separate piece as shown in Fig. 3 for ready replacement.

From the foregoing detailed description, it is apparent that my present invention provides an improved liquid soap dispensing brush unit which is simple and compact in construction and which is moreover highly efficient in operation and actual use. The improved device is composed of relatively few parts which may be readily molded or otherwise formed and quickly assembled and sold in large quantities at low cost. Br-ush units produced in accordance with the invention are sanitary and extremely pleasing in appearance besides possessing maximum utility, and they are adapted for use in the home as well as in commercial establishments such as beauty parlors and barber shops. The elongated soap housing or reservoir I2 serves the two-fold purpose of housing an adequate supply of shampoo or liquid soap while also providing a convenient and natural gripping member or handle for the unit, and the valve controlling the supply of soap to the brush face or scrubbing area is simple and conveniently controlled with the same hand that rips the device, the valve automatically closing after each operation. The parts are all subjected to minimum wear and the unit may obviously be assembled and dismantled in a ready manner.

While the soap dispensing brush unit has been specifically shown and described herein as being formed of plastic material and with a particular number of ports and passages 8, II, and I4, it may obviously be produced of any suitable material and any desired number of ports and passages may be provided; and the improved device may also be used for diverse purposes other than bathing and hair conditioning.

It should therefore be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or the precise mode of use herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art to which this invention pertains.

I claim:

In a soap dispensing brush assemblage, an elongated brush plate having bristles projecting from one face and beingprovided with a series of passages extending from said face through the plate and terminating in an elongated trough remote from said bristles, a tubular soap reservoir spaced from and extending longitudinally of said plate and having a removable filling closure at one end provided with a vent and also having outlet apertures directed toward said trough, a valve housing interposed between said plate and said reservoir and having a cylindrical bore communicating on one side with said apertures and along its opposite side with said trough, a cylindrical valve slidably but non-rotatably confined within said bore and having a coaxial push button at one end projecting externally of said housingwhile its medial portion is provided with ports for connecting said apertures directly with said trough, and a compression spring within said bore coacting with the opposite end of said valve and with the end of the bore remote from said push button, at least one end of said bore being in open communication with said trough at all times.

2. In a soap dispensing brush assemblage, an elongated brush plate having bristles projecting from one face and being provided with a series of passages extending from said face through the plate and terminating in an elongated trough remote from said bristles, a tubular soap reservoir spaced from and extending longitudinally of said plate and having a removable filling closure at one end provided with a vent and also having outlet apertures directed toward said trough, a valve housing interposed between said plate and said reservoir and having a cylindrical bore communicating on one side with said apertures and along its opposite side with said trough, a cylindrical valve slidably but non-rotatably confined Within said bore and having a coaxial push button at one end projecting externally of said housing while its medial portion is provided with ports for connecting said apertures directly with said trough, and a compression spring within said bore coacting with the opposite end of said valve and with the end of the bore remote from said push button, said valve housing being shorter than said plate and reservoir to provide a recess within which said push button is constantly confined.

FLORA H. ELLINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 479,461 Banta Mar. 8, 1892 899,395 Kadushin Sept. 22, 1908 1,074,522 Nelson Sept. 30, 1913 1,092,656 Lynam Apr, 7, 1914 1,131,068 Ligh'tfoot Mar. 9, 1915 1,292,288 Fisher Jan. 21, 1919 1,339,745 Dunaway May 11, 1920 1,477,578 Marsh Dec. 18, 1923 1,690,022 Langhaus Oct. 30, 1928 1,889,399 Beckert Nov. 29, 1932 1,919,887 Gleeson July 25, 1933 

